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The Fall of Rome: 476 CE
After a long period of peace and prosperity, the Roman Empire gradually lost its strength and size. From the
year 161 to 476 CE, Rome underwent a period of decline. It lost its wealth, military power, and respect in the
Mediterranean region. There were several major factors for Rome’s decline and eventually its collapse.
Political Corruption
Rome lacked an organized, effective system for choosing new emperors once one passed away. This
caused senators and military leaders in Rome to argue and fight one another for power. Within a 100 year
period, there were 37 different emperors, 25 of whom were assassinated (killed while in power). In addition,
dishonest and corrupt leaders offered bribes to people to support them. Sometimes the emperor’s position
was sold to the wealthiest person. This political corruption led to weak, ineffective leaders who could not rule
effectively.
Unemployment
Unemployment increased greatly in the last years of Roman rule. Over time, wealthy landowners used
more and more slave labor because it was cheaper for them. As a result, slaves replaced regular
farmworkers. Farmworkers migrated to cities looking for jobs. The cities did not have enough jobs for all the
new workers and as a result, unemployment rose. Although the government offered food for the poor, there
was not enough to support the 100,000 unemployed. With high unemployment and a strained budget, the
Roman government could not afford to maintain its empire effectively.
Military Spending
Funding the Roman army was an expensive task. To pay for the army, the emperor raised taxes for
farmers and businessmen, greatly upsetting the people. The Roman government also hired foreign soldiers
from other territories. These foreign soldiers were expensive, unreliable, poorly trained, and not loyal to the
emperor. The empire’s vast borders were guarded by these soldiers, leaving Rome vulnerable to attack. At
the same time, the military budget left little money to maintain roads, buildings and other areas of the empire.
Roman citizens began seeing the decay of their cities and lost pride in their empire.
Urban Decay
The majority of Romans lived in unsanitary conditions. Cramped apartments, open sewage, and
disease-infested cities were common towards the empire’s collapse. The Roman government lacked money to
fund public buildings, bathhouses, roads, and other services. Rome was no longer seen as the strongest,
wealthiest empire in the region. This also caused Roman citizens to lose pride and loyalty towards their
empire and leaders.
Division
In 300 CE, the emperor of Rome, Constantine, took a drastic step. He moved the capital of the Roman
Empire to Istanbul, Turkey, over 850 miles away from Rome, Italy. This decision created a division between
the western and eastern areas of the Roman Empire. The Western Roman Empire kept its capital in Rome,
Italy. The eastern Roman Empire, also called Byzantium, continued to exist for another 1,000 years after the
Roman Empire collapsed.
Barbarian Invasions
Barbarians were foreigners living outside the borders of the Roman Empire. Around the year 300 CE,
barbarian tribes from Germany attacked the Roman Empire. They burned farmlands, raided cities, and made
travel and trade across the empire dangerous. As the German invaders crossed the empire, they took control
of France as well as parts of Greece. In the year 476 CE, Germans attacked Rome overthrew the last emperor
of the Western Roman Empire, bringing the empire to its end.
Cause
The Fall of Rome: 476 CE
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Describe the Cause (1 fact)
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